Valeza is my middle name, but also my mom’s maiden name. My mom was born in the Philippines, and I started incorporating my anime inspired designs with my Filipino culture and heritage.

When I first started out, my clothing brand didn’t have any direction or any meaning. I was very interested in designing and just putting my brand’s name on t-shirts and hoodies.

After I graduated College, I wanted to pursue my clothing brand and see where it goes. I was working part-time as a tennis instructor because growing up I played tennis and played tournaments oversea. I ended up getting a scholarship to play division 1 tennis for Lasalle University in Philadelphia.

Started the clothing brand, was a lot of trial and error and figuring it out hoping things will fall together. In 2017, I attended my first convention but I wasn’t an anime inspired streetwear brand just yet. It was Anime NYC, I didn't break even at all, and lost a lot of money and maxed out my personal credit cards.

Fast Forward to 2018, is where I really thought it through, thought about what I want to represent and what my passions are. I like anime and grew up watching anime, to be honest 2017 was an eye opener because I didn’t even knew there was an anime world with these conventions being so big, to me it was new .

I realize I wanted to make my original designs but yet anime inspired. I wanted to design based off what I was feeling and what I thought was appealing to me.

As soon as I started designing more and more, & doing anime conventions so frequently, my brand started to grow but it didn’t happen overnight and was definitely a long path to get to where I am today.

There are a lot of hurdles, setbacks and obstacles that I went through, but my passion for designing as well as for the anime community kept it going.

Without the support of my friends, family and customers I wouldn’t be where I am out ,

Thank you, “It wouldn’t be possible without you guys”

-Brian Valeza Balico